Encounter with the Red Army Waterbury soldier honored by Soviets in '45

James J. McGrath II

During World War II, 1st Lieutenant William M. Blair Jr. heard mechanized equipment through some woods after crossing the Elbe River with his platoon. Blair recalls that "it was very unsettling because we had no idea who it was." After coming to a heath in the woods, he saw through his binoculars that the soldiers weren't wearing German uniforms. He realized these soldiers were our Soviet allies.

Blair pointed to his chest and said to a Russian, "Me American." The Soviet soldier, who spoke perfect English, shook Blair's hand and said, "I've been waiting four years for this." This was a monumental moment in Lt. Blair's military career, and a short time before VE-Day in 1945.

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